🗞 Watch the Throne

G’day Sports Fans,

🗣️ Motivation: “Everybody’s SORE. Everybody’s TIRED. Everybody has an EXCUSE. Don’t be EVERYBODY.” - Georgia Tech Coach, Lewis Caralla.

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🏀 Justin Tatum has signed a three-year deal to remain head coach of the Illawarra Hawks, the team announced on Thursday evening.

The new contract keeps Tatum at the helm of the Hawks through the 2026-27 NBL season; the final year of the deal contains a mutual option.

🇦🇺 Melbourne premiership-winning midfielder Angus Brayshaw announced his shock AFL retirement Thursday, citing ongoing battles with concussion as the reason for prematurely calling time on his career.

🏈 Fresh off his Super Bowl celebrations with the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce has arrived Down Under to support his superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift during the Australian leg of her The Eras Tour.

NRL is the #1 sport in Australia

📺 The NRL has topped $700m in revenue for the first time ever amid bumper profits and TV numbers

NRL broadcast figures outstripped AFL, with 93.2m viewers tuning into Telstra Premiership matches on Nine and Fox Sports compared to 91m for AFL’s free-to-air and pay-tv coverage. (@footyindustryAU).

Rugby league is now Australia's most-watched sport with total viewership of 171.8 million, up 14 per cent from 150.6m in 2022.

Financials: From being “three to four months from being insolvent” The NRL now boasts net assets in excess of $260 million, not including recent acquisitions the 81-room Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters hotel and Quest Hotel at Woolooware Bay. 

The NRL delivered record distributions of $447 million to stakeholders, with players receiving a record $216.3m. 

🏉 Big shake-up at Canterbury Bulldogs! Matt Burton and Reed Mahoney stripped of captaincy duties, paving the way for a fresh face to take the helm. Enter Stephen Crichton, without even stepping onto the field yet!

Crichton, who joined from Penrith over the offseason on a four-year deal, was announced as the club's sole skipper on Thursday.

🏉 Super Rugby Pacific is set to get underway this weekend as the 12 teams battle for the title.

The defending champions Crusaders will kick off the action against the Chiefs (favourites for the title) today, followed by the Melbourne Rebels hosting the ACT Brumbies at AAMI Park.

The Hurricanes face the tough task of defeating the Force in Perth whilst the Blues and Fijian Drua head to Whangarei to open the season.

The Highlanders welcome the Moana Pasifika to Dunedin for their opening round clash, with the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs adding another chapter to their fierce rivalry to finish the round.

Brumbies head up the Aussie challenge for the title ($12).

⚽️ Daniel Penha’s cold panenka was voted the Isuzu UTE A-League Goal of the Week…

🏏 It's crunch time in the Marsh One-Day Cup Final on Sunday.

Western Australia is eyeing a historic three-peat, a feat achieved only by legendary NSW teams of the past. But their journey hit a snag as Ashton Turner's knee injury sidelines him, passing the captaincy to Sam Whiteman.

Whiteman is in white-hot form with 416 runs (Avg 83.20), goes head-to-head with NSW's Daniel Hughes, whose blazing bat propelled the Blues into the finals with a match-winning century against Victoria.

NSW's Jack Edwards and WA's Andrew Tye, both leading wicket-takers, aim to leave their mark.

WA might see the return of Jason Behrendorff, fresh from the Dettol T20I series, while NSW's Sean Abbott's shoulder injury clouds his participation.

🇦🇺 North Melbourne has given Tarryn Thomas the boot due to multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women. Both the AFL and the Kangaroos confirmed Thomas' removal from the team's roster in addition to his previously reported 18-match ban.

The 23-year-old is required to complete a behavioural change program before even thinking about returning to the game post-suspension, which ends July 22, 2024.

🤼 An Australian journalist was left hot under the collar after an awkward encounter with WWE star Austin Theory.

Theory threatened to 'smack the s***' out of editor-in-chief of The West Australian, Anthony De Ceglie, during media day ahead of Elimination Chamber.(Twitter Video)

⛳️ Charlie Woods eyes PGA Tour: Golf's most famous 15-year-old will compete in a pre-qualifier event today as he tries to secure a spot in the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic next week.

The top 25 players and ties advance to Monday's final qualifier, with four then earning places in the main field.

His dad was 16 when he made his pro debut at the L.A. Open in 1992.

⚽️ Chelsea lead Arsenal in the race to sign Napoli's 25-year-old Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen this summer.

🏏 England captain Ben Stokes says he has never seen anything like the pitch for the fourth Test against India.

The surface in Ranchi has cracks running down one side, just outside a right-hander's off stump at one end and a left-hander's off stump at the other.

"I've never seen something like that before. I have got no idea so I don't know what could happen," said Stokes.

⚽️ Messi chips injured player: In their opening round 2-0 victory, Messi took the school yard tricks to new a level by chipping the ball over a prostrate player, taking the absolute p**.

🏀 LeBron James has been downgraded to out for today’s (AEDT) game at Golden State as he continues managing a left ankle injury.

James said at the All-Star Game he would use the break to get additional treatment on peroneal tendinopathy. He didn't specify the nature of the treatment.

🏎️ After reigning Champion Max Verstappen was fastest on opening day. The teams were out again on Day 2 of F1 testing in Bahrain

Here's the lap times from day two:

• 1st Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) - 1:29.921

• 2nd Sergio Perez (Red Bull) + 0.758

• 3rd Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.145

• 5th Daniel Ricciardo (RB) + 1.440

🥊 Still no May 4 opponent has been finalized for undisputed super middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez. According to ESPN in Mexico, Premier Boxing Champions, who will cough up around a US$35 million purse for Canelo, considers Jaime Munguia to be a more attractive PPV attraction. Team Canelo, however, is insisting on Jermall Charlo, who PBC fears could end up being a money-loser. A decision one way or another is expected by the end of the month.

🏀 What are the odds of a kid from Serbia wearing a Nuggets sweatshirt 25 years ago and then becoming their greatest player in franchise history?

TODAY 

07:00 - Super League - Hull Kingston Rovers v Leeds Rhinos [Fox League]

07:10 - MLB Pre-Season - San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers [ESPN 2]

08:00 - PGA TOUR - Mexico Open, Round 1 [Fox Sports]

11:30 - NBA - Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns [ESPN]

14:00 - NBA - Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers [ESPN or ]

15:00 - Test Match - India v England [Fox Cricket]

16:30 - Test Match - India v England [Fox Sports]

17:05 - Super Rugby Pacific - Chiefs v Crusaders [Stan Sport]

17:10 - T20 Series - New Zealand v Australia [Fox Cricket]

18:00 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters [Fox League]

19:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - Rebels v Brumbies [Stan Sport]

19:45 - A-League Men - Brisbane Roar v Western United FC [Paramount+]

20:00 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - Cronulla Sharks v Canterbury Bulldogs [Fox League]

22:00 - Super Rugby Pacific - Western Force v Hurricanes [Stan Sport]

SATURDAY

01:00 - Pakistan Super League - Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi [Fox Sports More]

07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Sociedad v Villarreal [Optus Sport 1]

07:00 - Super League - Warrington Wolves v Hull FC [Fox Sports]

07:00 - Super League - London Broncos v Catalans Dragons [Fox League]

08:00 - PGA TOUR - Mexico Open, Round 2 [Fox Sports]

08:52 -Me n's Vancouver Sevens, Day 1, Round 4 [Stan Sport]

11:30 - NBA - Philadelphia 76ers v Cleveland Cavaliers [ESPN]

13:45 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - Melbourne Storm v Newcastle Knights [Fox League]

14:00 - NBA - Minnesota Timberwolves v Milwaukee Bucks [ESPN]

14:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - Blues v Fijian Drua [Stan Sport]

15:00 - Test Match - India v England [Fox Cricket]

15:45 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - Warriors v Dolphins [Fox League]

16:00 - WorldSBK Australia Race 1, Round 1 [Fox Sports]

16:10 - Bathurst 500 Race 1, Round 1 [7mate, Fox Sports]

17:05 - Super Rugby Pacific - Highlanders v Moana Pasifika [Stan Sport]

17:30 - A-League Men - Sydney FC v Melbourne City [10 Bold or Paramount+]

17:55 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - Manly Sea Eagles v Brisbane Broncos [Fox League]

19:45 - A-League Men - Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers [10 Bold or Paramount+]

20:00 - AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying - Uzbekistan v Australia [Channel 10 or Paramount+]

20:05 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - St. George Illawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers [Fox League]

20:05 - Super Rugby Pacific - Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs [Stan Sport or Channel 9]

21:45 - A-League Men - Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix [Paramount+]

SUNDAY

01:00 - Pakistan Super League - Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings [Fox Sports More]

01:15 - Six Nations - Ireland v Wales [Stan Sport]

02:00 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest [Optus Sport 5]

02:00 - Premier League - Manchester United v Fulham [Optus Sport 3]

02:00 - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton [Optus Sport 4]

02:15 - Spanish La Liga - Barcelona v Getafe [Optus Sport 2]

03:45 - Six Nations - Scotland v England [Stan Sport]

04:30 - Premier League - Bournemouth v Manchester City [Optus Sport 1]

04:30 - Super League - Huddersfield Giants v St Helens [Fox Sports]

05:00 - PGA TOUR - Mexico Open, Round 3 [Fox Sports]

07:00 - Premier League - Arsenal v Newcastle United [Optus Sport 1]

07:00 - World Club Challenge - Wigan Warriors v Penrith Panthers [Fox League]

07:43 - Men's Vancouver Sevens, Day 2, Round 4 [Stan Sport]

10:05 - Marsh One-Day Cup Final - New South Wales Blues v Western Australia [Fox Sports]

11:00 - T20 Series - New Zealand v Australia [Fox Cricket]

12:30 - NBA - New York Knicks v Boston Celtics [ESPN]

15:00 - Test Match - India v England [Fox Cricket]

15:00 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys [Fox League]

15:05 - Bathurst 500 Race 2, Round 1 [Channel 7, Fox Sports]

16:00 - WorldSBK Australia Race 2, Round 1 [Fox Sports]

17:00 - A-League Men - Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners [10 Bold or Paramount+]

17:00 - A-League Men - Newcastle Jets v Macarthur FC Bulls [Paramount+]

17:00 - NRL Pre-Season Challenge - Gold Coast Titans v Parramatta Eels [Fox League]

20:00 - Pakistan Super League - Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators [Fox Sports]